please talk us through car hire!

[jubileegirl]

Please would someone talk us through the best way to independently hire a car for our summer trip to Florida.

We fly into and out of Miami and would like to know the cheapest way using any little tips to save a dollar or two........

* use a UK or a US site to book?

*when to book for an end of July arrival?

*whether to go for an all-inclusive booking (and if we do, will there be even more extras to fork out for at check-in?)

*the whole issue of insurance
(I've already posted about this and received some helpful ideas for alternative, cheaper cover but maybe there are other ways I don't know about yet! I know insurance is vital but I gather you can get cover cheaper than the actual car hire company in some cases or can use certain credit cards to book which include car hire cover.)

*any tips to receive some extras eg an upgrade

.......in fact anything that would help us to make a good choice and get a great deal.

Many thanks.

 

[juliebro]

I'd suggest getting a few prices and comparing. Try Dollar, Avis, Hertz and Alamo websites.

I have a vague feeling that if you live in UK, you have to book using the companies' UK websites, rather than US, but I could have that completely wrong! I'm sure other DIS'ers will know.

We have always gone the 'fully inclusive' route - as we are on the cautious side and want to make sure we are fully covered in all eventualities. e.g. uninsured/underinsured driver insurance etc

We also now opt for 2 named drivers, rather than one, since DH dislocated his shoulder last year on holiday and I wasn't insured to drive the hire car!

Once you've shopped around for a few prices, I'd try Airline Network to see whether thay are any cheaper. They were for us.

Good luck

Julie

 

[nuttytart]

Also try Airline Network and Holiday Autos. They too are quite good.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

The main decision is whether you book flight-only and make seperate arrangements for car hire, or get flydrive tickets. There is no 'right' answer to this question, it depends on whether you travel during peak season, where you fly to, etc. Get quotes for both options and see which is best for you. There have been lots of discussion about car hire insurance - a quick search on this board will bring up a number of relevant threads.

We usually travel during school holidays and whenever we have compared prices it has always worked out cheaper for us to book flydrive and make seperate arrangements for insurance (through American Express travel insurance). Booking flight only plus seperate car hire was a bit more expensive, and booking a package and taking the inclusive insurance offered by the travel company was the most expensive option.

Regards

Rob

 

[martina857]

m

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Originally posted by martina857
HIThe problem with American Express insurance and all the other types is you still have to pay the taxes and fees when you get there and they can mount up. We used to use Amex, but at that time I think ? They only did the car hire insurance on the Annual policy, for us as a family then it was £250 or more and a little extravagant if we were only going away once. Also I seem to remember a different insurance started to be included with car hire and Amex did not cover it, was it the SLI ? Something to do with third party injuries?

I've checked this very carefully and the Amex policy is at least as good as the inclusive insurance policies offered by the tour operators, often better. Local taxes and surcharges add about $60 per week.

Regards

Rob

 

[Hilary]

We have tried all ways - fully inclusive fly-drive, separate flights and car hire, and arranging our own insurance along with a fly-drive or separate flight and car hire.

Lately we have favoured making our own insurance arrangments because we feel we get a better deal than taking an all-inclusive package. We use the Nat West policy and reckon we save at least £175 on a two-week trip if we only go on one trip per year. Having said that, on the first few trips, I wouldn't have felt comfortable not taking the package offered by the tour operator - it's only with hints and tips from places like these boards that we've been confident enough to try making our own arrangements.

We did try leaving the car hire booking until we were in Orlando one year (because we didn't need the car for the first few days). Never again! It cost us more and caused a lot of unnecessary hassle and wasted time. Maybe we were just unlucky, but we always arrange it before we go now.

 

[edie w]

Holiday autos have a thing with Tesco Clubcard. Each £5 clubcard voucher is worth £10 or £20 (premium members). We think we may be able to save quite a lot by doing this - given the amount my DS (13) eats!

 

[yourwelcome]

try dial a flight for car hire. We have a deal for april that has cost £550.00 for 2 weeks. Van for EIGHT. Thomas cook eventually price matched it after their original price was £800.00.

THINK ABOUT IT! HOW MUCH DO WE PAY FOR A CAR ON FINANCE IN THE UK? MEGA PROFITS ON THE UK CAR MARKET.

However the dollar will offer a couple of free upgrades compared to last years prices.


ENJOY>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[martina857]

m

 

[jubileegirl]

Thank you everyone for all this help.........

We have a flight-only already booked. I've tried lots of the main rental firms on both their UK and US sites. It certainly seems much cheaper to book 'all-inclusive' from the UK versions although I didn't use any codes on the US estimates, which might have brought the price down a bit.

I'm still interested in the idea of taking out separate insurance.
Hilary - do you have to have a Nat West credit card or bank account to get the Nat West policy? My husband has a Barclaycard Gold Visa - perhaps we could see if that includes car hire insurance, I hadn't thought of that possibility!

(The best 'all-inclusive' UK quote was £292 from Florida car hire, for a mid-size. Florida Homes and Travel was cheaper but I need to find out if they are 'Orlando only' as we need to pick up in Miami.)

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the help - it was much appreciated!

 

[Hilary]

do you have to have a Nat West credit card or bank account to get the Nat West policy?

You have to have paid for the car hire using a NatWest card (I think this could be debit or credit). If you take the inclusive rental car option on a fly-drive or package holiday, then that has to be paid for using the NW card.

The policy itself costs £75 per year for any number of trips of up to 30 days each.

 

[martina857]

m

 

[amf]

Originally posted by martina857
Wow are they back in business???

Last year thousands of people were left stranded without cars after having paid them their money, when they went bust!!!! Have they set up again??
Don't trust these if they have !!!!

Martina.....I think jubileegirl may be referring to FHAT. If you go onto their website the car hire link is designated "Florida Car Hire", obviously no relation to that ceased company.

I have hired my Dodge Grand Caravan (£600 for 3 weeks) via FHAT, largely on your recommendation (ta muchly) I must say I've been impressed with them during 'phone conversations and exchange of e-mails

 

[jubileegirl]

I'm not sure which site I found the £292 quote now - I looked at so many and scribbled down the cheapest! It wasn't FHAT because I know that was even cheaper but I needed to e-mail them about a Miami pick-up (haven't done that yet)
Whatever I meant by 'florida car hire' beats me!!


DOH! Just had a brainwave and yes, I remembered right! It was on another holiday site called 'holiday truths' and a couple of posters recommended them. One even provided a link which is when I got my quote. They describe themselves as the UK's No 1 Florida car rental specialist and are a subsidiary of a company called Global Leisure. Do you think they are a different company?

 

[martina857]

m

 

[jubileegirl]

I'm almost sure it was a current thread but will check and if so post something to put people in the picture.